St. George Coptic Orthodox Church clergy and congregation extend an invitation to you to attend an Ecumenical Prayer Service for the martyrs of El Koussous and St. Mark’s Cathedral who lost their lives after being maliciously attacked without any intervention by Police or State Security.

When: Sunday, 26^th May 2013

Where: St. George Church, 1-3 Bowral St, Kensington NSW

Time: 7:00-8:30pm

Your attendance and support on this night is most appreciated and valued by the Australian Coptic Community.

May Christ our Lord bless you all.

Fr Matthew Attia

Below is an excerpt from Mr Ferguson’s letter to Senator Bob Carr:

“I appreciate the seriousness of calling in an Ambassador to indicate Australia’s concerns about particular issues. However, events in Egypt appear to demand such action.

On April 14^th I attended a sizeable rally in Sydney’s Martin Place with a significant number of NSW and Commonwealth parliamentarians in the aftermath of violent attacks on mourners at Cairo’s St Mark’s Cathedral”.

The ACM welcomes Mr Ferguson’s stance and we look forward to a prompt response from the Senator Hon. Bob Carr. We also demand that the Australian Government immediately makes strong representations on this serious issue at the United Nations.

It is quite clear that The Egyptian government has not only failed to take appropriate action to afford protection to Egypt’s vulnerable Coptic community but also directly participated in the persecution.

We are also deeply concerned over the welfare of 24 year Demiana Nour. She has been held by Egyptian police in Luxor since 8 May 2013 under ‘defamation of religion’ charges. Demiana is a young teacher who was merely undertaking her teaching duties.

We demand that the Egyptian authorities immediately release Demiana and all Copts who have been have been charged under flimsy ‘defamation of religion’ charges.

The Australian Coptic Movement Association

Email: info@auscma.com

Phone:  +61418-331-213

Web:     www.auscma.com

“Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen!”

Christ is Risen. Indeed He is Risen.

Pekhristos Aftonf. Khen omethmi aftonf.

Today many Orthodox Christians in Australia and abroad are celebrating the Resurrection of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, greeting one another with “Christ is Risen! Indeed He is Risen”.

On the 14 April 2013 the ACM organised a successful protest, in which Coptic Bishops, Politicians and friends from all walks joined us in solidarity with Egypt and with Egypt’s persecuted Coptic minority. We have received a great response following our rally and are pleased to advise that many politicians have agreed to further pursue the Australia Government to act on Egypt. We will report further on this in coming weeks and release videos of many great speeches.

To keep up to date with the ACM’s news and campaigns, join our mailing list by emailing info@auscma.com with the subject ‘subscribe’.

Wishing everyone a Happy and Safe Easter.

Karen Sayed

For and behalf of The Australian Coptic Movement Association.

The Australian Coptic Movement Association’s operating costs are run purely on the donations received by its supporters and the tireless work of its volunteers. Please donate to our cause by clicking ‘Donate’ above and help the Copts promote their rights and their community. All donations greater than $2 are 100% tax deductible.

Watching the manhunt for the Boston Marathon bombers unfold live on TV, I could not help but feel a certain sense of awe at the precise and methodical nature of law enforcement in the United States. At times, even in between the conflicting reports and hearsay, there was a strange inevitability to it all – it would only be a matter of time till the heavy hand of justice catches up with the perpetrators. Sure enough, the two suspects were eventually apprehended after fierce resistance – one of them alive to see his day in court.

Throughout the whole saga, a number of Egyptian bloggers looked on the unfolding events with a sense of gloomy jealousy. How would a similar scenario have gone down in Cairo, I wonder? What would the Egyptian authorities have done when faced with murderers on the run and a community feeling vulnerable at the prospect of further attacks?

On Sunday 7 April 2013, a sustained attack by a mob on St. Mark’s Cathedral in Cairo resulted in the deaths of two Coptic mourners, themselves attending the funeral of four others killed in sectarian attacks a day earlier. The attack was the sixth major breakout of violence reported against the beleaguered Coptic minority in Egypt since the revolution in 2011.

You would think that the Egyptian police reacted with the same speediness as the Boston police, right? I mean, that’s what police are there for, isn’t it? Within mere minutes of the bombs exploding at the finish line of the race, what seemed like an entire Bostonian legion of uniformed men and women were on the scene. Eyewitness accounts and videos of the aftermath describe a beehive of activity with police not only cordoning off the area and carrying out emergency services but they also earnestly sought to help the victims of the brutal attack. Pictures abound of police carrying bloodied children and pushing wheelchair-bound individuals to safety. Conversely, at the Cairo Cathedral, eyewitnesses and videos describe a police that not only stood idly by while attackers were throwing rocks, Molotov cocktails and firing live ammunition at the Cathedral, but actively participated by firing their own teargas inside the Cathedral compound.

Similarly, the response from the top paints a dark, shamefully embarrassing picture for the Egyptians. While Obama addressed a shocked nation within hours of the incident and warned against rash public judgement whilst investigations were ongoing, Morsi waited until the next day to issue the usual Brotherhood-brand of vague statements alluding to foreign conspiracies and unfounded plots against a fictitious national unity. Perhaps Copts should be thankful he didn’t tweet his now-infamous insult to Pope Tawadrous: “Any attack against the Cathedral is like an attack against me personally”. It speaks volumes for the mature respect for democracy that even after the main suspects of the bombing were confirmed, Obama urged caution against speculating on possible motives until due process had taken its full path.

The embarrassing reality of the Egyptian justice system actually gets worse. Imagine that after the bombs exploded at the marathon, with all the agony of the victims and the terror of an entire community, the FBI announced that their main concern was to bring ‘reconciliation’ to the city. Fearing an outbreak of anti-Muslim violence, the authorities gathered leaders of the city along with leaders of the local Muslim community and forced them to negotiate a settlement to the Boston Marathon “clashes”. Of course, plenty of media would be on hand to show the government’s great and noble achievement. All the while, the perpetrators are forgotten about and any talk of justice must be within the context of the ‘peace’ that now exists in Boston because of the reconciliation sessions.

Such is the sad and ludicrous reality for Egypt’s vulnerable Coptic community. While sectarianism is nothing new in Egypt, it is specifically the response of the Egyptian authorities to acts of violence that is at the core of the increasing hostility towards Coptic Egyptians. Reconciliation is a noble goal but when prioritised above justice, it creates a pervasive culture of impunity that ensures the repetition of these crimes.

It is high time for all those interested in seeing the development of a stable and democratic Egypt to start paying close attention to the details of the government’s actions, especially in response to sectarian violence. Participants in such sessions, both Muslim and Christian, must seriously consider the long-term impact of these sessions and whether it might be more beneficial to boycott these sessions altogether until justice is served.

Mina George Yassa is a political science student who is passionate about human rights and social  justice,  especially for his native Egypt. You can follow him on Twitter @mgyassa

The Australian Coptic Movement Association’s operating costs are run purely on the donations received by its supporters and the tireless work of its volunteers. Please donate to our cause by clicking ‘Donate’ above and help the Copts promote their rights and their community. All donations greater than $2 are 100% tax deductible.

Nominations for the 2013 Humanitarian Awards recognise the contribution of individuals within society that assist recently arrived refugees. Medhat Attia is the volunteer refugee support officer for The Australian Coptic Movement Association and we have decided to launch a campaign to get Medhat recognised for his hard work which goes mostly unnoticed. By doing so, we can help forward the Coptic plight on a national stage so that we can gain increased Government support for Copts whom settle in Australia.

Medhat has been nominated under the Refugee community worker category. Born in Upper Egypt, Medhat arrived in Australia as young 20 year old. He left to escape persecution in Egypt and start a new life in Australia.

Not long after arriving in Australia he realised there was minimal support services to help refugees. Since 2000 Medhat has worked tirelessly assisting refugees and new migrants in the following areas:

1. Assisting refugees with translation and interpretation when interviews are conducted with different organisations and institutions.
2. Provide transportation for visitations with doctors, councilors, hospitals and other appointments.
3. Assist with Medicare inquiries and applications.
4. Assist with asylum seeker assistance from the Australian Red Cross.
5. Find accommodation and assist delivering furniture when they settle .
6. Assist with school applications for children of refugee families.
7. Register for ESL (English as a second language) classes.
8. Help them to integrate in the community and educate them on Australian values.

HOW YOU CAN HELP?

The 2013 STARTTS Humanitarian Awards are now open – nominate someone for their outstanding work with refugees!

The Humanitarian Awards are an opportunity to acknowledge, thank and promote the hard work and achievements of both individuals and organisations in various fields that play a substantial role in improving the lives of refugees. Nominations close in one month, so nominate Medhat Attia now to recognise the hard work of someone who is making an exceptional contribution to refugee issues.

Please click HERE and fill out the online nomination form and nominate for the category ‘Refugee Community Worker’. Your support will allow us to ensure that the plight of the Copts remains central to Australia’s migration intake policy and ensure we receive the proper resources to assist those whom escape hardship.

Thank you for your support!

Up to 2,000 people gathered in Martin Place, Sydney on Sunday, 14 April 2013 to protest against escalating attacks against Coptic Christians in Egypt.

The rally was attended by HG Bishop Daniel of the Coptic Orthodox Diocese (Sydney, NSW) and HG Bishop Daniel of the St Shenouda Coptic Monastery (Putty, NSW), along with church heads from the Coptic Catholic Church and Presbyterian Churches. Also present were various Egyptian associations and Egyptian political representatives who make up the collation of the ‘Egyptian National Salvation Front, Australia’.

Protestors held banners reading messages such as: “World shuts its eye as more Copts die”, “Free Egypt from the Brotherhood” and “I want my Egypt back from those terrorists”.

The rally, hosted by The Australian Coptic Movement Association (ACM), was in response to the latest attack on thousands of Coptic mourners filing out of a funeral service at St Mark’s Cathedral.  The mourners were set upon by a Muslim mob that hurled fire bombs, live ammunition, tear gas and rocks at them while they were still inside the Cathedral.  Police were slow to arrive to the scene and, when they finally did – joined in the attacks.

ACM Spokesperson, Mr Peter Tadros described the Egyptian State Government’s complicity in the recent attacks and its repeated failure to protect minority Christians in Egypt as “State sponsored terrorism”.  He called for the Federal Government to use its seat on the UN Security Council to call for an end to Coptic persecution.

Both New South Wales State and Federal Parliaments were represented by attendees at the Rally.

The Hon. Mr Philip Ruddock MP, representing the Hon. Tony Abbott, reminded the protestors of Mr Abbott’s statement at a previous ACM rally, where he said that “a democracy must be judged not by how effectively it implements the will of the majority but how effectively it protects of the rights of the minority”.  Mr Ruddock assured the crowd that the Coalition Government would do all it can to voice the concerns of the Coptic community in Parliament.

In his address, Mr Chris Bowen MP, former Immigration Minister, condemned the most recent attacks told the protestors of Foreign Minister Bob Carr’s meeting with President Morsi last year, where he had raised the issue of Coptic persecution with Mr Morsi.

Mr Craig Kelly MP also called for the Australian Government to use its seat on the UN Security Council to address this issue on the international stage saying “now is not the time for silence or appeasement from the international community – for as the Copts go, so may the entire Middle East”.

The Hon. Rev. Fred Nile MLC proudly held a Coptic Cross throughout the event.  In his address to the Coptic protestors he called on the Australian Government to make urgent protests to the Egyptian President Mr Morsi, and request that he guarantees the protection of all citizens, including its Christian minority.

Other guest speakers included Mr Laurie Ferguson MP, Hon. Luke Foley MLC, The Hon. David Clark MLC and the Hon. Greg Donnelly MLC, Mr Hermiz Shahin representing the Assyrian Universal Alliance and Mr Mina Yassa from Amnesty Australia.

The rally was concluded with the Master of Ceremonies urging all those who attended to write to their Federal MP’s and raise their concerns with the escalating attacks against their counterparts in Egypt.

For inquiries, please contact The Australian Coptic Movement on at info@auscma.com. A PDF of the report can be found by clicking here

The Australian Coptic Movement Association’s operating costs are run purely on the donations received by its supporters and the tireless work of its volunteers. Please donate to our cause by clicking here and help the Copts promote their rights and their community. All donations greater than $2 are 100% tax deductible.

Sydney — Hundreds of persons gathered at Martin Place in Sydney on Sunday 14 April 2013, to protest the continuous persecution of Egypt’s indigenous Christians.

The rally was attended by political leaders from Federal, State and Local Government, to support calls by the Australian Coptic Movement and the Egyptian Coptic Orthodox Church in Australia to condemn the violation of basic human rights of the Christian Copts of Egypt.

Mr Hermiz Shahen, The Deputy Secretary General of the Assyrian Universal Alliance and Mr. David David, president of the Assyrian Australian National Federation joined in the protest. Mr. Shahen addressed the gathering in a show of support for the Copts of Egypt.

To read this article and a transcript of Mr. Shahen’s speech, please go to: http://www.aina.org/news/20130414183842.htm

Australia’s Copts protest and call for Australian Government to act in Egypt

Up to 2000 people attended a protest in earlier today in Sydney to stand in solidarity with Coptic Christians in Egypt.

The event was attended by Church leaders, Politicians, Community leaders and Amnesty Australia. Members of parliament from the Australian Parliament and NSW State Parliament were present and all delivered great speeches calling for an end to the persecution.

The event received plenty of radio and newspaper coverage on the day including breaking news items focusing on the United Nations.

A full report will be released within the next 24 hours.

The Australian Coptic Movement Association

WHEN: Sunday, 14th April 2013

WHERE: Martin Place, Sydney CBD (Corner of Macquarie St)

TIME:     From 1.30PM

Australia’s Coptic-Egyptian community has been shaken by the escalating attacks on Coptic Christians throughout Egypt.

The Australian Coptic Movement Association (ACM) is organising a rally on Sunday to stand in solidarity with Copts in Egypt following the ongoing attacks against Coptic Christians in Egypt.

The events which unfolded began last Sunday when thousands of Coptic mourners were attending St Mark’s Coptic Orthodox Cathedral in Cairo to participate in funeral prayers for the Copts who were massacred in the district of Khosous only 24 hours before. Upon leaving the Cathedral they immediately came under gun fire and many ran back to the Cathedral grounds for safety and shelter. The Cathedral which also contains the papal residency of Egypt’s Coptic Pope, Pope Tawadros II then came under sustained attacked by Egyptian security forces and armed gunmen.

Coptic Christians have been subject to mob violence and persecution for several decades however these attacks have escalated and now occur in almost every province of Egypt from Alexandria in the North to Aswan in South. Coptic Christians are being persecuted and the Egyptian state has failed to protect them.

We are pleased to advise that many church leaders, politicians and human rights organisations will be represented at this event. Amnesty Australia will have a presence as well as The Assyrian Universal Alliance. The following politicians have accepted ACM’s invitation to attend the event despite the short notice:

Hon. Mr Phillip Ruddock MP (Representing the Hon. Tony Abbott, Leader of the Opposition); Mr Chris Bowen MP, Mr Craig Kelly MP. Mr Laurie Ferguson MP, The Hon. Rev Fred Nile MLC, The Hon. Luke Foley MLC, The Hon. Greg Donnelley MLC, The Hon. David Clark MLC  Dr Andrew Macdonald MP.

We are gathering in solidarity with Copts in Egypt and to call for the end to the violence and justice for Coptic Christians in Egypt.

Enquiries:  info@auscma.com Phone: 0418-331-213 Website: www.auscma.com

Statement by Rev Hon Fred Nile, National President; Christian Democratic Party on the Violent Attacks on Coptic Christians in Egypt.

Our Christian Democratic Party is both shocked and saddened by the increasing, violent attacks on peaceful Coptic Christians in Egypt.

These frequent attacks have escalated with the recent attack on Sunday 7^th April 2013 when the funeral for four Coptic Christians, who were killed in sectarian violence in Khosous, was taking place in St Mark’s Coptic Cathedral in Cairo.  This attack resulted in a further death and many injuries.

Upon leaving the Cathedral, Coptic Christian mourners came under gun fire and ran back to the Cathedral grounds for safety and shelter.  As a result, the Cathedral staff came under “sustained attack by armed gunmen and by Egyptian Security Forces” as claimed by eye witnesses.

“Our Australian Government must make urgent protests to the President of Egypt, Mr Morsi, and request that he guarantees the protection of all citizens, especially the Christian minority surrounded by a Muslim majority” said Rev Nile.

“It is vital that the Egyptian Security Forces protect all citizens without fear or favour. It is also essential that Coptic Christians are allowed to serve in the Egyptian Security Forces, at all levels of authority, so as to prevent any control by militant Islamists” said Rev Fred Nile MLC.

Note: Rev Nile will be speaking at the Sydney Coptic Rally which will take place on Sunday 14^th April 2013 at 2.30 pm in Martin Place, Sydney, representing the Christian Democratic Party as it stands in prayer support and solidarity with the Coptic Christians in Egypt.

12^th April 2013.